§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect on NHS mental health services of restrictions imposed by councils on the number of placements to be made by social services in nursing or residential homes; and if he will make a statement. [12052]
§ Jacqui SmithThere has been no specific assessment of the effect on national health service mental health services of restrictions that any local authorities may have chosen to impose on the number of placements to be made by social services in nursing or residential homes. Most people with mental health problems are able to live in the476W community, and many of those people who are admitted to hospital with mental health problems are able to return to their own homes, or to families, on discharge.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which(a) voluntary and (b) independent sector groups have been involved in the planning and implementation of the national service framework for mental health. [12053]
Jacqui Smith: Many representatives of charitable and voluntary organisations, including representatives of service user and carer groups, were involved in helping to develop the national service framework for mental health through the external reference group and many continue to be involved in implementation, either through project work led by the Department and/or the mental health taskforce.